MIAMI DADE COLLEGE

Department of Biology/Health and Wellness

Kendall Campus
BSC 1005
General Education Biology
BSC1005
Spring 2014-2
Faculty:

Babatunde Amole, Ph.D.

Office:

Room 3265

Phone:

(305) 237-2494

Office Hours:

Tentative-M, W 10A-10:50A
T, R 9; 50A-11:05A

Email:

bamole@mdc.edu

Required Text: What Is LIFE?

A Guide To Biology
By Jay Phelan
2nd Edition
2013

The following are guidelines that the students should adhere to at all times to obtain
maximum benefit from the course.
Attendance:

Students should try to attend all lectures sessions promptly. If for any reasons you
cannot attend a class, or will be late you should call and leave a message at the
faculty's extension and state the nature of the circumstance. 5 absences or more may
lead to reduction in credit points
There are no make-up exams for students who miss an exam without a legitimate
reason.
No-shows will be purged by January 20, 2015
Academic Misconduct:
Cheating in any form will not be tolerated and will be dealt with to the fullest extent.
Students who cheat on examinations, quizzes or share homework assignments will be
penalized.
Please, refer to the Students Rights and Responsibilities at the website below:
http://www.mdc.edu/policy/student_rights_and_responsibilities.pdf

Grading Criteria:
There will be a total of four examinations, of which the average of the best two
examinations and the final examination will be used to determine the final grade.
Criteria for letter grades are indicated below:

A
B
C
D
F

90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
60-69%
<60%

Final Exam Schedule

April 25-May 1, 2015.
Assignments: Assignments could be required for the class, and these should be
handed in on the due dates. Points will be deducted from assignments that are late.
Extra Credits
Service learning-volunteering hours at different agencies working with the college are available.
Arrangements must be made early during the semester to accommodate the student. The student
can obtain a maximum of 10 points in their lowest test for 15 hours of volunteer work and a

reflection. Students must show proper documentation from site to obtain credit. No
arrangements will be made at the last minute. Students interested in completing service learning
hours must notify instructor no later than the second week of class. Volunteer hours must be
completed during the first 10 weeks of the semester to be counted and reflective assignment
submitted the week following the completion of the hour.
Other assignments may be given for extra credits.
General Education Biology BSC 1005
Course Description:
This general education biology course covers basic biological concepts, concentrating
on selected principles that help explain molecular biology, evolution, genetics, growth,
disease, and the problems of humans in the environment. It is designed to stimulate
interest in the variety of life that exists on our planet, help students recognize the factors
that provide order in this variety, and involve students in the processes of inquiry,
observation, and analysis of biological organization in order to give them a foundation
for intelligently interpreting and evaluating biological topics.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites and Co-requisites: none
Course Competencies:
Competency 1: The student will understand the nature of science, the scientific method,
and the field of biology.
The student will be able to:
A.
describes and/or illustrates the scientific method as presented in the literature.
Differentiate between science and biology.
C.
compare the characteristics of life common to a simple cell and
multicellular organisms.
Competency 2: The student will become familiar with the basic principles of matter and
energy, and understand how they relate to living organisms.
The student will be able to:
A.
define energy and matter, and their laws, and explain how they
are used in biological systems.
B.
explain the basic structure of atoms and molecules and
Recognize examples of covalent, hydrogen, and ionic bonding.
C.
explain the importance of water to life and the concept of acidity
As well as its expression as pH.
D.
identify the four major groups of organic compounds
(Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids) and
Understand their functions in living systems.
E.
describe the roles of enzymes in the synthesis and

Decomposition of biological compounds.

F.
describe the processes of photosynthesis and cellular
respiration.
Competency 3: The student will become familiar with cell structure and function and
their interrelationships.
The student will be able to:
A.
describes the structure of a typical cell and explains the function
of the sub cellular organelles.
B.
differentiate between plant and animal cells with respect to
Structure and function.
C.
identifies and explains methods of cell transport such as diffusion,
osmosis and active transport.
Competency 4: The student will understand how life perpetuates itself.
The student will be able to:
A.
explains the function and significance of cell division and organismic
reproduction.
B.
compare and contrast mitosis and meiosis and describe the
significant events that occur in each stage of these processes.
C.
understand the principles of heredity, as illustrated by the work
of Gregor Mendel, and their application to humans.
D.
describes the structure of DNA and understands how it functions to
Control a cell's activity and acts as the molecule of heredity.
E.
explain the processes of DNA replication, transcription and
translation.
Competency 5: The Student will understand and appreciate the nature of evolutionary
theory.
The student will be able to:
A.
explain the theory of evolution of life on Earth favored by modern
scientists.
B.
describes and explain Darwin's basic concept of natural selection
and how it relates to the theory of evolution.
C.
list and explain the several categories of evidence that support
the theory of evolution.
D.
describe how scientists group living organisms into hierarchical
Groups based on their shared characteristics, and name and characterize the
major systematic taxa.
Competency 6: The student will understand how living organisms carry out basic
biological processes by becoming familiar with the structure and function of the organ
systems. (Optional)
The student will be able to:
A.
describe the basic body plan of humans, including the

integumentary, muscular and skeletal systems.

B.
understand how the human body coordinates activities through
Means of the endocrine and nervous systems and defends against disease by
means of the immune system.
C.
explain digestion and absorption of food and elimination of
Waste (including both the digestive and urinary systems.)
Explain the structure and function of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
E.
explains the structure and function of the reproductive system.
Competency 7: The student will understand the relationship between organisms and the
environment as well as how the environment is affected by population growth and
consumption of resources.
The student will be able to:
A.
identify and explain the ways in which the abiotic environment
affects living systems.
B.
describe the factors that control population growth and the
Mechanisms involved.
C.
discuss the various relationships existing among individuals and
populations in communities.
Explain the nature of ecosystems with particular reference to their sustainability.
E.
list and describe the major biomes of the world.
F.
discuss the major impact humans have on their environment

Miami Dade College

Department of Biology/Health and Wellness
Kendall Campus
BSC1005
Schedule of Lessons
Lessons

Topics

Read Chapters:

Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Lesson 3
Lesson 4

Science
Chemistry
Cells
Energy

1
2
3

Lesson 5
Lesson 6

Chromosomes and Cell Division

6
DNA, Gene Expression, and Protein Synthesis 5

Lesson 7
Lesson 8
Lesson 9

Evolution and Natural Selection

8
The Origin and Diversification of Life on Earth 10
Species, Micro, Macroevolution and Diversity 10

Lesson 10

Evolution and Diversity among Microbes

13

Lesson 11
Lesson 12

Fungi and Plants

Animal Diversity

12
11

Lesson 13
Lesson 14
Lesson 15

Population Ecology
Communities
Ecosystems

14
15
15

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement

Students who have a disability that might affect their performance in the class are encouraged to contact
Access Services, in confidence, as soon as possible. The office will aid in appropriate accommodations
for the student. This is in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American
with Disabilities Act of 1990.
Important links: